Rachel Morin investigation: Sketch released of suspect in Maryland mother's killing

BALTIMORE -- The Harford County Sheriff's Office has released a suspect sketch six months after a Harford County woman was killed on a popular trail.

"It's been shown to the people out there in Los Angeles who were at that crime scene, and they all believe it fairly and more accurately represents the suspect," Sheriff Gahler of Harford County said.   

Rachel Morin went for a walk along the Ma and Pa Heritage Trail on August 5 around 6 p.m. She didn't return home that evening. Soon after, she was reported missing. 

The next day, a search volunteer found the mother of five's body just off the trail. 

Surveillance video of a suspect in the case was released in August. The suspect was caught on a doorbell camera at the scene of a home invasion and assault in Los Angeles in March. 

It's what helped detectives create this new and crucial lead in the case. 

"We've talked to a number of witnesses who have seen people that we know are similar in build and description to the video that we released and appear similar to the sketch. Those people saw this individual in the weeks, I would say the last two weeks in July leading into August, in and around that area," Captain Andrew Lane of the Harford County Sheriff's Office said. 

Detectives said DNA from that crime scene matches DNA found at Morin's.

Authorities say the suspect plotted and planned his brutal attack on Morin in August 2023, just a few months after a home invasion and assault in Los Angeles.

"When this suspect attacked Rachel, he pulled her over to the culvert. We believe it happened fairly quickly due to the witnesses we have in the area, so obviously, he knew that the culvert was there," Lane said. "When this suspect attacked Rachel, he pulled her over to the culvert. We believe it happened fairly quickly due to the witnesses we have in the area, so obviously, he knew that the culvert was there."

Police also say the area where Rachel's body was found was 70 to 80 yards off the trail, which signifies the careful planning of the suspect.  Thankfully, witnesses helped police connect the dots.

"We know that he was in the area minutes before this, and was standing in an area where he could observe the trail, and then positioned himself in a place where he could not only attack Rachel but could remove her from the trail and make it so she wouldn't be seen by any other people passing in the area," Lane explained.

Investigators have conducted more than 100 interviews and followed up on more than 1,000 tips since Morin's death, officials said. 

"No one has suggested anything to us that we weren't already aware of, but I should keep those suggestions coming," Gahler said.

The reward for information leading to the arrest of Rachel Morin's killer increased Monday to $35,000, the law firm representing the family said.